Oceania Football Patriarch Charlie Dempsey was farewelled yesterday at St Columba Church in Auckland in a moving tribute from a large turnout of more than 600 friends and family.

The former OFC Presidents life was celebrated from his childhood days in Scotland through to yesterday’s service – conducted by a Catholic Priest in a Presbyterian church.

Speakers from all facets of Dempsey’s life spoke at the funeral including OFC General Secretary Tai Nicholas, Fiji FA President Dr M.S. Sahu Kahn, NZ Football Chairman Frank Van Hattum and New Zealand’s 1982 World Cup coaching staff of John Adhsead and Kevin Fallon among others.

In a touching Eulogy Peter Clapshaw described Dempsey’s life as “a long and successful innings – though cricket was not his sport. He said that Charlie’s life fell into four categories “family, business, sport and football.”

“Charlie was possibly the most outstanding administrator sport in New Zealand has ever known, and I would not be surprised if he is already on his way to organising heaven,” Clapshaw said.

Nicholas noted the great turnout was credit to the many different lives Charlie touched in welcoming friends and family from OFC, Japan and Europe.

One of Dempsey’s nephews, Fred Drubber, listed a handful of the famous people his uncle had spent time with, reeling off names such as Prince Charles, football great Pele, Sean Connery, Sophia Loren, Tony Blair, the Pope and Henry Kissinger.

"Given his Irish background [Dempsey's father was Irish], the family were impressed he had met the Pope," said Dubber. "Charlie preferred to talk more about Sophia Loren."

Dubber spoke of a business house league that Dempsey used to play in which summed up his strong personality.

“In the team Charlie was  the selector and captain ....... and it was Charlie’s ball.”

David Delay from the Remuera Golf Club spoke of Dempsey’s love for Golf and his achievements in being Club Captain and President as well as posting an impressive handicap of 4 during his peak. Yesterday club members formed one of two guards of honour.

Dr M.S Sahu Kahn spoke of Dempsey’s great humility and how he never wanted publicity. “He wanted to call the OFC headquarters the Dr Havelange Academy and we had to get a counter motion passed at the OFC Executive congress to name it the Charles J. Dempsey Academy.”

“I will always remember the way that he would visit the small island countries and towns, no matter how small and do it with such enthusiasm,” Dr Sahu Kahn added.

In a further tribute, 1982 World Cup coach John Adshead simply said: "He fought for us all - here and abroad. He fought for me and gave me the greatest opportunity any coach can have - the chance to take a team into the World Cup."

And many of those players who went with Dempsey, Adshead and Fallon to Spain in 1982 were there yesterday to pay their respects to a man who had given them all that chance.

Cheers to Charlie: Friends pay tribute with a toast of Guiness.

Guard of Honour: Charlies wife Annie Dempsey (Centre) is accompanied by Charlies daughter Alice Banks and her husband Ronald Banks.

The 1982 All White coaching staff John Adshead (left) and Kevin Fallon paying their respects

Photos: Garry Brandon, courtesy Times Newspapers, www.times.co.nz

An invitation to officiate at a FIFA tournament is an honour for any referee or assistant referee. For three OFC officials, their invitation to the Beijing Olympics later this year is a very prestigious appointment and a positive sign of OFC’s growing focus on referee development.

“In terms of recognition, the Olympics is probably only second to the FIFA World Cup. To be invited to participate in an Olympic Tournament is very exciting and we all looking forward to the opportunity to represent our countries and OFC” said Mike Hester, a FIFA referee from New Zealand.

Mike will lead an OFC Trio consisting of Michael Joseph from Vanuatu and Tevita Makasini from Tonga.

Team work amongst officials is a vital component for successful match control and the trio have worked together in the South Pacific Games in 2007 and more recently in Fiji for the Olympic Qualifiers.  The OFC has been looking for opportunities for the trio to work together as often as possible as they prepare for the Games.

As a result, the trio recently completed a six day preparation camp period during 5 – 11 June in Auckland.

During the build up phase, the trio officiated on two Northern Region Premier League matches and underwent a fitness test. This was supplemented with a daily program of coaching, testing on the laws of the game, video analysis, recovery sessions, and practical sessions focussed on teamwork and communication techniques.

Hester said that the opportunity to work together and further develop the trio’s teamwork and communication techniques has been invaluable.

“The standard and pace of the games at the Olympics will be very fast so we need to ready for that individually and as a team.”

The trio have their preparatory fitness test in Fiji on 12 July and then one final game together in PNG on 19 July (appointment yet to be confirmed). They fly out to China on 30 July and will undergo a week of acclimatisation and preparation before the tournament starts on 6 August 2008.

The arrival of the Vanuatu Senior National Soccer team this afternoon will add colour to the country’s independence anniversary celebrations.

Sun Sport caught up with the Vanuatu Head Coach Malas Williams shortly after they arrived at the Honiara International Airport Henderson field and asked him what his thoughts are about the competition.

“We are excited about this new competition because it will help us to be competitive. In the past we have not had enough international matches so it affected our performance,” he said.

Williams revealed to Sun Sports that only 18 players traveled with him. The other two will arrive on Friday ahead of their opening match on Saturday.

According to him, it was a tough call to participate in this competition having just returned from New Caledonia.

However, he said they agreed to come despite financial difficulties because of the importance of this competition.

“As you know, we’ve just returned from Noumea and financially it was difficult for us. Anyway, the important thing about this trip is the birth of new competition which will eventually become a major event in our region,” he added.

When asked if the team he brought over was the same one that lost to New Caledonia he said only half of them are retained. The others are new players.

Missing in this trip is Vanuatu’s rising midfield player Francois Sakama, Richard Iwai and Ettiene Mermer.

However, Malas will be banking on the experience of his captain Moise Poida and his generals to lift Vanuatu’s flag in the competition.

The Vanuatu national team will play its first match against the Solympic on Saturday before it takes on Solomon Bonito in its finals match on Monday 7th July.

The winner of the competition will receive a trophy and substantial amount of money as cash prize.

Meanwhile, soccer fans and supporters are being urged to turn up in numbers at Lawson Tama to watch the international matches starting this Thursday.

The two local sides; Solomon Bonito and Solympics will tussle in the opening match while Vanuatu is bye.

PAPEETE - Tahiti U-20 coach and FIFA World Cup winner Lionel Charbonnier has named his training squad for the next season's Federal Championship.

Charbonnier named his squad last week as Federation Tahitienne de Football (FTF) prepares to host the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) U-20 Men's Championship in December.

Tahiti finished fifth at the last edition of the OFC U-20 Men's Championship in New Zealand in January 2007 while the U-17 team finished runners-up to New Zealand as the Colin Tuaa-coached kiwis qualified for the FIFA U-17 World Cup - Korea 2007 ahead of the Tahitians.

Charbonnier's impact on Tahitian football has been a welcome boost for the game in French Polynesia with the graduates of last year's U-17 team widely regarded as one of the countries best crop of youngsters in recent years.

The former Auxerre and Rangers goalkeeper said Tahiti and other Oceania nations would struggle to close the gap on the rest of the world but was optimistic gains within the region could still be made.

"Closing the gap in Oceania is more realistic.

The technical gap between New Zealand and the rest of Oceania is not that great.

This is a realistic target for teams like Tahiti," Charbonnier told www.oceaniafootball.com.

Charbonnier says December will see how much progress has been made toward that aim.

"It will be an interesting tournament and I believe we have a good chance to show what we have learned," Charbonnier said. 

The Tahiti U-20 team will play in the Federal Championship as part of its preparation programme for the big event.

The winner of the OFC U-20 Men's Championship will qualify for the FIFA U-20 World Cup - Egypt 2009. 

TAHITI U-20

Jason MATHIEU (AS Central); Teheipuarii HAUATA (AS Tefana); Ralph HEITAA (AS Vaiari Nui); Alvin TEHAU (AS Tefana); Stephane FAATIARAO (AS Tefana); Edson LEMAIRE (AS Vairao); Keni NUI (AS Pirae); Tauirei TEIVA (AS Venus); Marama AMAU (AS Venus); Kaurani VOIRIN (AS Pirae); Teheivarii LUDIVION (AS Venus); Heimano BOUREBARE (TAC); Teiefitu NAHUI (AS Tefana); Stanley ATANY (AS JT); Ricky AITAMAI (AS Venus); LOrenzo TEHAU (AS Tefana); Garry ROCHETTE (TAC); Jay WARREN (AS Pirae), Steeve CHONG HUE (AS Samine); Tuheirarii TETUANUI (AS Vairao);Rainui TZE YU (AS Venus); Moe ROHI (AS Punaruu).

Coach: Lionel CHARBONNIER (FRA)

TAHITI U-20 RESULTS (2007)

vs. Samoa (N) won 3-1

vs. New Caledonia (N) lost 1-2

vs. Vanuatu (N) drew 2-2

vs. New Zealand (A) lost 0-2

vs. Solomon Islands (N) lost 1-2 

vs. Fiji (N) won 2-0 

Final position: 5th 

NOUMEA - A five goal haul by 18-year-old international player Alexandre Rosso handed FC Ferrand the first national futsal title after it disposed ASPR Foa 6-3 on Sunday.

The Ferrand FC goal hero starred for New Caledonia at the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) Futsal Championship despite the team achieving only modest results.

Ferrand's defensive performance was offset by Rosso's freescoring as the youngster capped off a memorable futsal season making his international debut in Fiji and nabbed his first domestic title and Man of the Match award in the final. 

Futsal has received a boost in New Caledonia recently with a host of facilities in the Northern Province part of the Federation Caledoniennes de Football (FCF) development strategy for this form of football.

New Caledonia won one match - 10-2 against lightweights Tuvalu - and drew against rivals Tahiti 2-2 at the OFC Futsal Championship.

'Les Cagous' found the going much tougher losing all four of its other matches to New Zealand (2-3), champions Solomon Islands (5-8), Vanuatu (1-11) and host nation Fiji (2-4). 

NOUMEA - One of New Caledonia's favourite football sons former Paris Saint Germain and Aberdeen defender Antoine Kombouaré has extended his stay with French Ligue 1 club Valenciennes by signing an extension that will carry through to 2013.

Kambouare arrived at Valenciennces in 2005 and signed a five year agreement as part of the coaching staff at the Northern club.

“Valenciennes is the club that gave me a chance and the club president (Francis Decourrière) showed faith and confidence in me," Kambouare told www.fedcalfoot.com

"I want to return this faith he and the club has shown in me"

"I'm in this for the long haul and by signing a contract extension I'm showing my commitment to being a success here," Kambouare declared.

With 45 points, Valencians finished 13th in Ligue 1 as Lyon secured yet another French title.

Kambouare starred for the France '98 XI in both Christian Karembeu and Pascal Vahirua Jubilee matches in Tahiti and New Caledonia in May and June.

The Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) advises that the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa TM, OFC Preliminary Competition – Stage 2 match between New Zealand and Fiji has been rescheduled to take place in Fiji on November 19, 2008.

The fixture was originally scheduled to be played in Auckland on October 13, 2007 at North Harbour Stadium however FIFA postponed the match after Fijian goalkeeper Simione Tamanisau was denied an entry visa into New Zealand.

Fiji FA and NZ Football requested that FIFA reschedule the match to Samoa on June 23rd, 2008 but after closer examination of the request and considering the difficulties encountered by the Samoa Football Soccer Federation to host the match in June FIFA agreed to relocate the fixture to Fiji in November at the request of all participants.

New Zealand won 2-0 when the two sides met in the first match of the OFC Nations Cup at Churchill Park in November 2007. Ivan Vicelich and Shane Smeltz scored the goals in front of a crowd of 6,000.

While Vanuatu and Fiji are now definitely out of the running, New Caledonia have moved to within a point of group leaders New Zealand, who have a game in hand over the islanders. The home-and-away contest between these top two countries in September will decide the fate of the Oceania group.

2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa TM, OFC Preliminary Competition – Stage 2 Matches:

DATE	MATCH		RESULT
13/10/07	New Zealand	Fiji	P-P*
17/10/07	Fiji	New Zealand	0-2
17/11/07	Vanuatu	New Zealand	1-2
17/11/07	Fiji	New Caledonia	3-3
21/11/07	New Zealand	Vanuatu	4-1
21/11/07	New Caledonia	Fiji	4-0
14/06/08	Vanuatu	New Caledonia	1-1
21/06/08	New Caledonia	Vanuatu	3-0
06/09/08	New Caledonia	New Zealand
06/09/08	Fiji	Vanuatu
10/09/08	Vanuatu	Fiji
19/11/08	New Zealand	Fiji

 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa TM, OFC Nations Cup – Stage 2 Standings:

Vanuatu will field a full strength side for the Telekom Wantok Cup which kicks off this Thursday at Lawson Tama Stadium in Honiara.

Their squad is the same one that recently lost 3-0 to New Caledonia in the World Cup qualifiers in Noumea.

They will come with the intention of winning the inaugural Telekom Wantok Cup and cash prize attached to it.

The last time they played the Solomon Islands senior team was at the South Pacific Games in Samoa in 2007 where they beat them 2-0 in the playoff for bronze medal.

It would be interesting to see them take on the two local teams who are equally as eager as them to lay claim to the silverware.

The two teams have gone into full training since the squad was assembled last week and are confident of doing the country proud in the competition.

Solomon Islands Football Federation (SIFF) General Secretary, Eddie Ngava expressed his optimism when asked about the two local teams’ chances saying that the boys will give it their best.

Commenting on PNG’s withdrawal, he said the door is open for them to participate in future Wantok Cup competition.

The PNG soccer team informed SIFF of their decision to withdraw from the competition on the eve of their arrival.

Despite that he said the competition would go ahead with slight changes to the fixtures because of PNG’s withdrawal.

Initially, there was supposed to be two matches per day for the duration of the competition however, there will only be one match with one team on bye per match day.

The Telekom Wantok Cup will kick off this Thursday with the opening match between Solomon Bonito and Solympics. Vanuatu is on bye.

Vanuatu’s opening match will be against the Solympics on Saturday before they play against Solomon Bonito on Monday to coincide with the country’s 30th Independence Anniversary.

The Fixtures

3rd July 2008        Solomon Bonito vs Solympics     4.00pm
                             Bye: Vanuatu

5th July 2008        Solympics vs Vanuatu                4.00pm
                             Bye: Solomon Bonito

7th July 2008        Solomon Bonito vs Vanuatu      4.00pm
                             Bye: Solympics

Although New Zealand will be competing in their first ever Men's Olympic Football tournament in Beijing next month, 'Oly-Whites' captain Steven Old will certainly not be over-awed by the occasion.

The confident, classy 22-year-old defender has not only garnered plenty of professional experience thanks to his stints in the Australian A